Fulltone Fat-Boost

The pedal is a no-brainer. However, if one is unfamiliar, dialing up the right mix of input gain and output volume may prove a little tricky; but hey, in the tone game, it's all about the end result, right musicians? The manual gave me a chuckle when Mr. Fuller referred to the dB levels of the pedal by saying, "...use common sense here..." Well said!

I use an older, yet very beautiful Electra 335 and a strat through a 4x10 Deville (soon to be a Bassman if someone will trade me!) and a JCM 800. Both amps are non-master volume amps, for which this pedal was designed, and the unit delivers 110% Another triumph from the casa de Fuller. This makes my 4th Fulltone unit along with my Clyde, Deja'2, and Fulldrive II..I put this effect before the Fulldrive just in case I go loco on stage..LOTS OF HARMONIX then! The pedal deilvers especially on making the sound bigger. I was surprised to hear Eddie Van Halen sounds coming out of my JCM 800 w/ this thing on..yes, I was jammin'..HARD. The unit delivers 100% of what I bought it for..and anyone who buys this looking for an OVERDRIVE should not even bother writing a review..for that is his/her error, not the pedal's.

Mr. Fuller builds his equipment to last. One of the main reasons I buy Fulltone, not only because of their pristine sound quality, but also because they are reliable..hence, Mr. Fuller is reliable all the way.

Mike is always quick on the keyboard to get back to inquiries. He is friendly, direct, and to-the-point. Personally, that is re-assuring. Coming from south Texas, we don't put up with alot of b.s., and evidently, Mr. Fuller doesn't either. If that's not a sign of a well-run business, I don't know what is.

I play everything save Punk/Ska/Thrash. This pedal works for it all! I'm still only an intermediate player at the VERY YOUNG age of 18 and have only been playing for nearly four years; but, having been around music all of my life, I can tell you what busts chops and what doesn't. Every dime I have goes towards music someway or another..and this is the most sound investment you'll ever make. If it were stolen I'd have another a.s.a.p. There is only ONE thing I wonder about this pedal..and that is why the AC plug is in front of the output jack rather than behind it? It is obviously some technical thing that Mr. Fuller would have rectified had it been viable without having to re-draw the whole design. It doesn't matter either way, I just have to use an 1/8 inch more patch cord..boo-f'n-hoo. Kudos to you Mike! Another great product and you haven't disappointed this musician yet! I'm just waiting to check out a Distortion-Pro when you're ready to release them! If you have any questions, feel free. By the way, Mr. Fuller, if you read this review as I know you do read them mostly, give Mario from Century Music in San Antonio Texas a big pat on the back. He's always been helpful and we always talk about, "Mike" and "what he's gonna do next."

Ease of use is simple. Take it out da box, plug it in, play with da knobs and find out what sounds good to you.

My set up starts with an Ibanez Prestige guitar (strat style - 2 humbuckers - 5 way switch) or a Gibson 335 Studio into a Boss TU-2 tuner, Boss DS-1 Distortion, Boss SD-1 Overdrive, Boss PS-5 Super Shifter (which I use mainly as a harmonizer), Boss CH-1 Chorus, Boss DD-3 Digital Delay, Fulltone Fat Boost (which is always on), into a 65 Fender Twin Reverb Re-Issue. All effects are attached to an SKB PS-25 Pedalboard with Monster Jazz cables exclusively (I don't care what anybody says, these cables do make a difference). I power my effects using a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power (just for noise sake). I send my pedalboard into a Whirlwind Hot Box DI to the input jack and my amp to the DI through jack, which is sent to the PA. This way I can get my stage volume the way I want and the soundman has control of overall volume FOH. I use the Fat Boost as a master volume control. My amp has only one volume knob and has so much power that I could never turn it up past 2 1/2 or 3. I could never use the real sound of the tubes because it was always turned down so low, so with my Fat Boost I crank my amp to 8 and control my volume on the Fat Boost volume knob with the tone control cranked all the way to the right and the input gain at 12:00. With this setup I can really get some tone and feeling and my effects are happy now too, because of the tube saturation I can get from crystal clear to vintage overdrive to screaming distortion. I play in 3 bands and play a variety of music. I play Hawaiian music ( I have a trio and originally come from Maui- you can make bookoo bucks playing this stuff on the mainland by the way-private parties rule) which I use my Fat Boost and delay only. I play in a 10 piece top 40 band with 4 horns (we do Tower of Power, Chicago, Kool and the Gang, Earth-Wind and Fire, etc.) and and original Contemporary Hawaiian Surf rock - Jazz Fusion type band. I love my Fat Boost. When I paid that money I knew what I wanted and I got it. Its not fancy and it just sits there out of the way, but its always on and makes a huge difference in my sound.

Yes, I guess can depend on it as long as I take care and don't abuse it.
I don't have a back up of anything I use If it doesn't work I just wont use it. I haven't forgot that I can play just as well with a dry signal with a little reverb from the amp. All the effects are just bells and whistles.

N/A

I've been playing for 25 years and have bought a lot of great stuff and also a lot of crap. My set up now is very versatile and it works for me. I'm always getting compliments on my tone, people can't believe I use Boss effects especially my $30.00 distortion pedal. Mahalo to Fulltone for making my rig soung the way its supposed to.
Malama da 'aina and each other

This pedal is very simple to use, easy to get good sounds, but you do need to adjust the gain level for different guitars. The knob is very small, which is good for avoiding hitting it with your foot, but it is quite difficult to see your setting, impossible if the stage is dark.

I'm using a G&L ASAT or an Epiphone Les Paul into the fat-boost, into an ayan smooth & slim, into either a fender blues junior or reissue deluxe. This pedal has moved me a lot closer to what I'm after tone-wise. I've learned that I really don't like the tubescreamer or pedals similar to it, I own a fulldrive 2 and I keep an elastic band under the volume/comp-cut knob because I hate what the compression does to the feel of the guitar interacting with the amp, it's sort of becomes this generic rock tone. The fat-boost I find to be much more natural sounding(feeling), it does change the tone(and I've experimented with it quite a bit)and I do notice some compression, but I find the overall effect to be pleasing. This pedal is a good tool for dealing with the problem of having to have your amp turned down, which I unfortunately have to deal with regularly(hence the blues junior). I read some people saying that you can get the same or a better effect as a clean boost from the fulldrive 2, well I don't get it, I tried it and did not find that to be the case, but different tastes are good. I've also had good results at higher volume using the fat-boost for solos.

I completely trust the quality of this pedal, I'm careful with my equipment anyway, but this thing is absolutely solid.

I've never dealt with Michael Fuller.

I grew up listening to the beatles, the rolling stones, led zeppelin, and jimi hendrix while people my age were listening to metallica, madonna or ll cool j. I always wanted to play at high volume through marshall stacks, but that was never practical, the closest I ever came was being able crank up my fender twin at some of the larger venues. I mainly play jazz/blues gigs now and small amps are a necessity, I even did a very large gig recently with a huge PA and stage, and the sound techs needed me to turn down my (22 watt) deluxe, times have changed! If it wasn't for the fat-boost in that instance it would have been hell, I think that is a kind of hell for guitarists, playing in front of a large audience and sounding like you're playing through a small radio! Tone isn't just in the hands and mind, although those are the most vital components, an electric guitar is only half an instrument, unlike an acoustic guitar, so the amplifier it's paired with completes it, and that's your voice. The effects are just colour, like putting the singer's mic through reverbs and delays for a certain mood. I feel that if your amplifier is not interacting with your guitar the way you want it to, it's not functioning and needs to be fixed. If you stuffed a towel into your acoustic guitar, you could still be creative and make music, but if it's not inspiring, what's the point? Life is short. The fat-boost helps the guitar interact better with the amp when I can't crank it, so it was very worth it for me. If the pedal were lost or stolen, Michael Fuller will be pissed off at me for saying this, but I'd probably order a Klon Centaur, it's discription certainly suits my needs. The fat-boost is half the price though, and I have no regrets about buying it.

Three knobs...Pretty simple, but what's the deal with the tiny input gain knob? Did Mike Fuller ever try turning that stupid thing with sweaty hands from playing?

Personally I don't think it does what it's supposed to do. I read the other reviews, and I have to agree...The clean boost thing is a crock. Granted I'm using a Matchless Chieftan, and clean isn't exactly in its vocabulary, but neither is the pedal.
My biggest beef is that it colors the sound a lot when used in conjunction with any other pedal. I've probably moved the Fatboost around my pedal board about ten times trying to find the best location for it where my Fulldrive2 wouldn't get it's tone characteristics all goofed up. All to no avail!

I would give this a lower rating, but I have to say that it works well as an overdrive unit with my Matchless. With the input gain cranked all the way, the volume at around 10 o'clock, and the tone knob at around one o'clock I get a nice touch of overdrive. I just wish it had a little more compression going on.

Currently I'm using a Fulltone Clyde, Fulldrive2, Dejavibe, and the Fatboost, and other than a noisy Fulldrive I've never had any problems. However, several of my friends use Fulldrive's, and at least a couple of them have had problems with switches...Mike sent them free replacement parts.

I've emailed Mike several times, and I've gotten a response from him 9 out of 10 times. I do have to say that he does have a bit of an attitude about his product. I suppose I can't blame him though, I probably would too.

My rig consists of the following: American Standard Strat, Tele, Matchless Chieftan 1x12, Fulltone Clyde, Fulldrive2, Dejavibe, Fatboost, Guyatone/Flip Vintage Tube Tremelo, MXR Phase 100, E-bow, and a Danelectro Danecho.

I play a myriad of styles, and have been using the Fatboost occasionally. I don't think I'd buy it again, but I'm not going to get rid of it either. I can't say that this really matches up to the other Fulltone products I own

In theroy it is easy to use...but I would not want to use it because it sounds bad. The clean boost is okay but it only works when your amp is not cranked up. When you are loud there is not any headroom anyway (this is true with any clean boost pedal).

Sounds pretty bad to my ear. Very tiny and shrill when used as an overdrive with the amp loud. It feeds back (not the cool feedback that you want that makes notes ring forever) like crazy and is NOISY!

As a clean boost it is good if you keep your amps volume WAY down. I use a Vox ac30 so anything past 4 on the amp and the pedal turns into an overdrive. It sounded good in the store because I didn't crank up at all. If you were a jazz guy who plays REAL quiet or you use 100watt marshalls I think it would be alot better because you would be able to make it work as a clean boost. As an overdrive it sucks. I have owned the Fulldrive also and that was a much better overdrive but it was a little to murky sounding. I have a supa-trem and LOVE that.

As a clean boost with the right amp/situation I give it a 8
As an overdrive I give it a 0. I think any cheap ass Danelectro mini pedal would get a better overdrive. My fave overdrive on the market now in the Maxxon od808.

Mike makes GREAT pedals. The switches he uses often die but otherwise his stuff is bulletproof.

He is a cool guy. I have heard good things here. Great that you can get him on the phone.

I guess I would have to admit it is a good pedal and would work with the right rig. For me with an ac30 it did not work because I play with the volume on about 6. I don't think it's main focus is supposed to be an overdrive so I won't take points away here. Like I said, if you use an old 100watt plexi and have the headroom or play a smaller amp at a very low volume it would work great as a clean boost.

It is very easy to use with only three knobs. Input, output, and tone.

I'm using the Fatboost with a Tele and DC-30. The other overdrives/boosters I have for comparison are the Klon, Fulldrive II, Analogman modded TS-9 reissue, TS-808, Z Vex SHO, and Rx Overdriver. I don't find it too noisy to use. It reacts nicely with other effects, but my favorite sound comes from going straight into the amp and I usually only use one overdrive and my Echodrive live. I don't understand why people are all up in arms about the Fat-Boost VS. Klon ordeal. Man, it's like the WWF or something! People should just relax. They are both great sounding pedals. They really don't sound all that similar to me. The Klon is midrangey and will make an overdriving amp scream for mercy. The Fat-Boost is lightly compressed and hi-fi sounding. Both great sounds. If you like your pedal, great. Just don't go around slagging other people's tastes. It all in YOUR ears anyway.

I have other Fulltone products and they have never let me down.

I've emailed Mike Fuller a few times and he always responds promptly with detailed messages.

I mainly play rock based styles with some blues. If it were stolen I would replace it. I especially like the tone knob on it and the fact that it is small.

Very easy to use with just a volume, tone and small knob for input gain. The manual is very helpful and straight to the point.

Fender '62 reissue strat (japanese) with Fralin woodstock '69 pickups,Fulltone fulldrive 2, fat-boost into a 40/40 watt Marshall valvestate amp. Now while I realize that the fulldrive 2 and fat-boost are best suited to all-tube amplifiers, this set-up allows you to hear the quality of the PEDAL itself, rather than the interaction between pedal and amp.
The fat-boost nicely boosts the volume and 'fatness' of your guitar signal. Some say that the fulldrive 2 actually has a better clean boost, but after extensively trying both pedals, I have to say that each one has it's own particular sound. Set up for clean boost, the fulldrive 2 sounds a bit more 'open' than than the fat-boost, but with a tone slightly reminiscent of a wah pedal in half cocked position. The fat-boost sounds bassy with a nice shimmery top end and a somewhat compressed midrange. The gain control increases the fatness and fullness of the sound.
I find that the fat boost also has the interesting ability to balance the response between the three pickups on the strat even better than the fulldrive 2.

Seems solid and sturdy, but I haven't had it long enough to realy tell.

I've only e-mailed Mike Fuller a few times to ask some questions. He has always been prompt and straight to the point.

While I dislike categories, I have to say I lean towards the jazz/blues/fusion spectrum of guitar playing. I also adore the clean sounds of Hendrix, Andy Summers and Ben Monder. The fat-boost seems well suited to the jazz/blues styles, whereas the fulldrive 2 in comp cut mode with the gain off sounds great for classic blues-rock/british rock styles. Of the two, the fat-boost has the nicer clean/fat boost (in my opinion).

Basic controls. They are very sensitive & may require some tweaking
to get what you want from it. The gain knob can be a little tricky depending
on what else you are using.

I use a 51' NOS Nocaster->Clyde->DV2->FD2 TR100->DD-3->Vibroverb.
This pedal "IS" very noisy, especially with single coils, which is probably at
least half the world. I am a huge advocate of Fulltone products, but I
have to say that this thing does nothing for me. I owned it for 3 months &
I was unable to get a "uncompressed" sound out of it. I tweaked it in every
way imaginable, and spent hours trying to figure out what I was doing wrong.
To say this thing "doesn't affect your tone" is an outright lie. The FD2's boost
is FAR more transparent and natural sounding. Save your $180 & spend some
time mastering your FD2's boost channel.

Like all Fulltone products, this bad boy appears to be solid as a rock!!

I have called Mike many times & have always recv'd friendly informative
advice.

I play "ALL" styles of music in a couple of bands & I use only top
notch gear. I baby everything I have. If it were lost or stolen I would be
mad that I wasn't able to sell it on E-Bay, but I would never buy another one.
In my opinion this pedal is really useless unless you have no idea how to
use your volume knob in conjunction with whatever kind of overdrive you are
using, be it natural amp OD or a pedal of some sort. Both of which destroy the Fat Boost.
I'd like to reiterate that I love all my other Fulltone stuff. I do ,however, feel like we may be getting
scammed here. Buy an FD2 & use the boost channel & get both effects for
the price of one. C'mon Mike, enough with the overkill. Make an analog delay
and get even richer. We are all waiting!!

nice and simple

i have tried this with everything from speek and spells to moogs to you name it. and yess it is noisy but who cares. i personally use it exclusivly with my fender Rhoads-- It kills. the klon in the same set up was boomy and bass heavy BUT when it comes to guitar Sorry Mike the klon murders the fat boost- Try this Maxx out all the knobs and play now turn the tone knob down and listen to it choke the volume hmm stange that the tone's a volume too like i said nice try but my Schaller treble bass boost pedal eats this thing up. however my rhoads loves it. why does this remind me of my BI-FET DOD studio Preamp or am i the only one?

Built like a tank
awsome quality

mike's a sweetheart when you compliment him and a devil when you criticize but he seens to care at times

nice but if you brag hard about somthing i feel you should deliver
and when a 30 year old Scaller half ass built booster has just as much juice i say nice try no die
oh the rating would have been higher i the boast was true

Pretty simple. Three knobs. Sit and play it with for a while to get the "sound" or "boost" you are looking for. Small input knob is irritating.

Its not noisy at all but as stated in some other reveiws it does add a bit of compression. Pretty bold statement claiming to blow away the Klon...two different pedals...simple as that.

Would rely on it if I ended up buying it.

I have spoken with Mike before. Bottomline: He is the "I'm right, your wrong" type of person. Nice guy nonetheless.

I didn't buy the pedal for a number of reasons. One, I wasn't shelling out $180 for a boost pedal. And I'll tell you why. If you either own 1) a Fulldrive II or 2) a Fulltone Supa-Trem there is way to acheive a similar boost through both pedals (in fact, I beleive Fulltone may have come up with the idea of making the FatBoost from the trick discovered from the SupaTrem). Although this may not be ideal for all live settings, both pedals will work as boosts the same as the Fat Boost. The Supa-Trem manual actually tells you how to set the pedal to acheive the boost setting. If you own one, set the mix knob to zero. By doing so, the footswitch on the far right now acts in tremelo/boost mode. Sure it makes your Supa Trem a little less versatile but it works. The Fulldrive can be used as a boost using the Comp Cut on the Volume knob. You can even dial in the tone and amount of overdrive you want turning it into somewhat of a Klon. My other reason for not buying the Fat Boost is that I have had alot of small problems with a few of my Fulltone pedals lately. I think alot of the problems may stem from the cheap footswitches that were on many of the older pedals (older meaning six months or less). Luckily, Fulltone has switched to the really sturdy "built like tank" footswitches. Unfortunately, everyone has there breaking point when pedals start to go haywire. My Supatrem still makes that "popping" sound everytime time activate it, my Fulldrive has burned out twice from a "dirty" pot and my Dejavibe needed two replacement parts. All this from products under a year old!

Thats my case...I still love Fulltone products (they sound great but I 'm starting to question the construction quality) but I won't pay for the same thing twice.